Beam rack



J. P. LAIRD BEAM RACK,

Sept. 27, 1960 Filed June 30, 1958 INVENTOR.

3 Sheets-$heet '1 1 1 q iufl Sept 27, 1960 J. P. LAlRD BEAM RACK Filed June 50, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

J. Pnuz. 44/?0 Sept. 27, 1960' J. P. LAIIRD v ,1

v BEAM RACK Filed June 30, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 u 4, w .1 5 l Q \Q 8 I R BEAM RACK Ioseph'Paul'Laird, Philadelphia, Pa., assignor to Equipment Manufacturing, Inc., Detroit, Mich., a corpora- This invention pertains to an improved construction of a rack for the storing or transporting of'cylindrical' or spool-like articles such as textile beams. i

.The improvements of the invention'provide a' rack which can be loaded and unloaded with greater ease,"less power equipment and decreased likelihood of damage to'fthe. article; and additionally a rack which supports a cylindrical article morepositively so that there isless likelihood Ofdamage to the article or to the rack from shifting of the article during transportation. 7

The improved rack construction consists of an open four-sidcd"rigid framework formed by four corner upright members suitably interconnected by-lower horizontal side and end members. Upper end members and one upper side member may also be employed to increasethe rigidity of this framework. "One side of thev framework is open above the level of the lowerside members.

tates Pater 2 i Figure 2 is a section taken on the line 22 of Figure 1 showing a loaded beam in phantom; Figure 3 is a partial section taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1 showing a plan view of the removable side member and associated framework members;

"Figure 4 is an enlarged section taken on the line 44 of Figure 3 showing some details of the fastening means for the removable side member; and

Figure 5 is an enlarged section taken on the line 5--5 of Figure 1 showing a portion of a tread construction.

The basic framework of 'the rack shown in the drawings is conventional in construction and includes four Treads are mounted on the framework to extend inwardly; from the lower side member of the open side to support a cylindrical object for rolling movement between the open side and a loaded position on the rack. This loaded position is defined by one or more locating surfaces carried by the rack frameworkand adapted to contact the 'per-iphery of the object being carried, removable upper side, memberis provided forthe open 'rackside and is'detachably mounted between the corner posts. One

or more clamping surfaces are mounted on the removable side member and are adapted' 'to contact'the surface .of theobject being carried when the removable sidemernber is connected to'the rack structure f: p 7 V V Preferably the clamping surfaces of {the removable side member contact an upwardly directed surfaceof the article so that the article is held positively in the rack against both vertical and horizontal movernent. relative totherack." I As previously mentioned the rack construction is ti'cula'rly adapted for the handling of textile bea' for this application the rack is advisedly equipped "with 7 protective top and side panels when beams of relatively expensive. yarn,. svuch-- as nylon,,-.are to .be-.handled;i A preferred feature is to form one removable side panel around the removable side member as a base. This removable side panel interlocks with'the rack framework and is held in position by the meanswhichdetachably'connect the removable sidemember to--the-corner posts The connecting means for the removable side. member include releasable-locks "and means for transmittingany force imposed on the removable member from the object contacted by the clamping surfaces to the rack framework rather than to the locks.

Due to the particular utility of the improved construction in the handling of textile beams the invention is illustrated in this use in the accompanying drawings and following description.

These drawings comprise the following views:

Figure 1 is a side elevation, partially broken away, of a beam rack with the removable side panel in place;

corner posts three'of which, 21, 22 and 23, are illustratedand which'are rigidly interconnected by lower side members 26 and 28 and lower end members 29 and 30.- Suitable gusset plates 32 are employed to reinforce the connection between each corner member and the side members 26 and 28, and gusset plates 34 are similarly employed at the connections between each corner post and the end members'29 and 30. An upper member 36 is provided at each'end of the framework and an upper member 38'is provided-at one side thereof. 7 Article supporting surfaces 'are provided in the form of'treads 40, 41 and 42. Each of these treads is a channel member which extends between the lower frame side members 26 'and 28. Each tread is provided with a notch 44 engaging side member 28, and with a notch 46 and a downwardly extending lip 47 engaging the side member '26. Each tread forms a supporting surface which extends inwardlytoward the center of the rack from the side member 26 to a loaded position for a cylindrical object such as'the beam 48 indicated in phantom inFigure 2. V V This loaded posi on isde fined by a locating surface 50 of a member 52 which is secured to each of the tread members. Loaded position is further defined by a depression.54 in the uppersurface of each tread member. 7 The tread members are positioned to be contacted by the ends of a textile beam and are preferably given a protective coating 56 of plastic or othersuitablematerial to mininiizethe possibilityof the beam ends becoming damaged or nicked: 1 r upper-side member 58' is provided for the open side of the rackframework. This upper side member 58 extends between the corner posts 21' and 22 and is detachably connected'th'ereto by a pair of locks 59 and 60' mounted on the side'member 59. Each of these locksis of the conventional plunger type and consists of a combinedpluhger and handle member 62 slidably mountedin a bracket 63 and normally urged to locked position by a spring 64. In locked position the plunger 62 engages a hole 65 in the corner post. The plunger is heldin'u'nlocked position by lugs 66'which engage the mounting'bracket 63.

Removable'side member'58 carries members 68, 69 and 70' each of -whichiprovide a clamping surface 72 (Fig.2) for engaging the surface of the beam ends. This clamping surface 72 is also preferably provided with a suitable coating 74..- Each of the:;members '68 and 70 at the ends of the removable side member- 58 are'mounted to extendbeyond the side member ends so that their upper and lower surfaces 76 and 78 overlap and engage the inside surface of a corner post. Thus the members 68 and 70 not only act to hold a beam in loaded position, but also act to transmit any force resulting from any tendency of the beam to shift position to the corner post of the rack framework. The members 68 and 70 form a part of the means for detachably connecting the removable side member 58 to the rack framework.

In the construction shown, the rack is equipped with a removable top panel 80 (held in place by engagement with conventional nesting caps 81) and a fixed sidepanel 82 (Fig. 2). Fixed protective end panels may also be employed if desired.

Removable side member 58 forms thebase member for a side panel which consists of a. sheet metal member 84 secured to and extending upwardly from the side member 58 and a wire mesh panel 86 securedto and extending downwardly from the side member 58; Wire mesh panel 86 is built around a suitable frame member 88 and is detachably engageable with the fixed side member 26 by pins 89 and 90. These pins extendthrough holes in the upper surface of the side member 26,and are held in engagement by the connectionbetween the removable sidemember 58 and'the rack framework. I

The rack is shown in loaded conditionin the drawings; To unload the beam 48, the top panel 80 is lifted offthe nesting caps 81. Then the locks 59 and 60 may be unlocked and their plungers 62 retained. in unlocked position by rotating the, plunger. to place lugs 66 in engagement with the'lock bracket 63 (see, Fig. 4). Removable side member 58, and its side panel structure may be removed by liftin the side panel vertically until .the overlapping portions, of the members.,68 and 70 clear the inner surface of the Side posts 21, and 2.2. This vertical movement of thelside member 58 will also withdraw the pins 89 and 90 from the lower side member 26.

The beam 48 is then free to be rolled out of the rack along the treads 40 and 42'and onto a dolly or thelike.

Loading of the rack is of course accomplished by a reversal of the above procedure. p

During both loading and unloading operations the depressions 54 in the treads 4042 serve to prevent accidental rolling'mov'ement of the beam during the time it is not engaged by the clamping surfaces.72.. When the beam is rolled on the treads to loaded position, the beam ends seat themselves in the depressions 54 and then a positive .force is required to cause movement of the beam from its loaded position.

Inthe construction shown the intermediate tread 41 and member 69 on the removable side member 58 are provided for supporting and clamping two half size textile beams.

Preferably the locating surfaces 50 and clamping surfaces 72 are relatively positioned in the manners shown in Figure 2 so that the combined action of the surfaces on a loaded textile beam, positively positions the beam against movement both horizontally and vertically while supported in the rack,

Modifications of theconstruction shown and described to adapt the invention for rack structures to handle cylindrical objects of other sizes ortypes may-of course be made. Such modifications as are within the scope of the following claims are to be considered part of the invention.

I claim:

1. A rack for storing and shipping a cylindrical object such as a textile beam comprising an open four sided framework formed by four corner upright members, lower horizontal side and end members connecting said upright members adjacent the lower ends thereof, a pair of treads extending transversely inwardly from one of said side members, said treads being adapted to support the ends of said beam for rolling movement transversely of said rack between said one side member and the de- 4 s red pssit t a db m 0 aitlt ta Psi? 9H9???- ing surfaces carried by said framework, said locating surfaces being aligned with said treads and being engaged by the periphery of said beam ends when the beam is in said desired position, an upper frame side member located vertically above said one side member, means for detachably connecting said upper side member to the corner upright member at each end thereof, and a pair of beam clamping surfaces carried by said upper side membe: for engagement with the perip hery of said beani endswlien sai'dbeam is in said desired position and when said upper side member is connected to'the rack structure.

A skw stra iqa asq t ia t s eiml wherein at least one bf s aid locating and clamping surfaces is above the horizontal center of said-beam.

3. A rack construction according to claim 1 wherein said clamping surfaces contact an upwardly directed t qm s d h amre h y w hi spa edrs at to theb'earrilceiiter .inore than id l ss than 180? from the portion or been periphery contacted by said ting$l Q. H a v A raj k construction according to claim 1 wh'erein a side panel is seciiredt'o saianppe; side member, 5i ",i n a d iwa to aid. qa l er s de iber and means for detachably engaging said side parielwith said onelower'side member. D W g I 5. A rack construction accordingtoclaim wherein m an n a hbl ampin unte teame to 'the corner upright mem ers; each end'the reof 'comprise releasable loc kyrneans and a .rnember secured, to a d e n n b o' 'd eiidtbf h a hi er, for overlapping engagement with the inside surface of said co'rn'er upright members. I p

6. A rack construction according toclaim jwherein said clamping surfacesare provided on the said members secured toeach end of said removable side member, 7. v A -rai'ck for sto ing andshipping a cylindrical object comprising an open four sided frameworlcforrned four cor'ri'er upright members, iawer hpnzamn side and end members connecting said upright members adjacent the lower eiids thereof, apair'of treads extending trans versely vinwardly from one, of saids'ide members, said re d being a ap e to p' f Sa i dtt d Fa in movement transversely of said raclc between .said one! side member. and the desired position of is'aid obj ect on said rack, at leastone locating surface carried bysaid framework, 'said locating surface being engaged, the periphery of saidobjectwhen in: said desired position,- an

' upper frameside member located above said orie side member, iisifordetachabl connecting said upper side m m am i u h m mb at ea ijd el 'f, and a clamping surface carried by said upper side ment; he for :s eme i v Wfihlh pe ph ry .Q id bbiect when inlsaild desired position, and when said upper side member is connected to the rack structure.

References Cited in the file of thispatent V V I UNITED STATES PATENTS 1, 47 

